Minutes of October Monthly Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 6th October 2008 at 8.00 p.m.

IN ATTENDANCE:

• Councillor V. Cawley, Mayor of Sligo (in the chair)
• Councillor D. Bree
• Councillor D. Cawley
• Councillor J. Devins
• Councillor A. Gibbons
• Councillor J. McGarry
• Councillor J McGoldrick
• Councillor T. McLoughlin
• Councillor C. MacManus
• Councillor S. MacManus
• Councillor T. MacSharry
• Councillor R. O’Grady.
  

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

• Mr. D. Breen, Director of Services
• Mr B. Gavin, Acting Director of Services
• Mr. J. McNabola, Town Clerk
• Ms. M. McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
• Mr. S. Martin, Senior Architect
• Mr. M. Condren, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent
• Ms. M. Leyden, Head of Finance
• Mr. A. Skeffington, Senior Executive Engineer
• Ms. B. Conway, Administrative Officer
• Ms S. Kilcullen, Cranmore Regeneration
  

1. VOTE OF SYMPATHY

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the following:

• The sister in law and family of Rev. John McGowan formerly of St. Annes Parish who died in Donegal.
• Mrs Leonie McGuinn and Family and the Kenny Family, Treacy Avenue on the death of Vinnie McGuinn, Woodtown Lodge, Sligo.
• Mrs Gayle Duggan and Family and Mr Ian Duggan and the Duggan Family, on the death of Gerard Duggan, Scardenbeg, Strandhill, Sligo.
  

2. VOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS

The Council extended congratulations to the Tone Cold Sober Barbershop Male Choir, Strandhill on winning the I.A.B.S. national Male Chorus Championship recently.

3. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held as follows were unanimously adopted and signed by the Mayor:

• September Monthly Meeting of 1st September 2008
• Adjourned September Monthly Meeting of 8th September 2008
• September General Purposes Meeting of 15th September 2008
• programme 4.5.8 Committee Meeting of 1st September 2008

Councillor S. MacManus proposed and Councillor McGarry seconded that the adoption of the recommendations of the Programme 4.5.8 Committee minutes of 25/09/2008 be deferred for consideration at the October General Purposes Meeting.  A poll was taken which resulted as follows:

For:  Councillor Bree, Councillor Gibbons, Councillor McGarry, Councillor C. MacManus, Councillor S. MacManus (5)

Against:  Councillor D. Cawley, Councillor V. Cawley, Councillor Devins, Councillor McGoldrick, Councillor McLoughlin, Councillor MacSharry, Councillor O’Grady       (7)

The motion was declared lost.

Councillor O’Grady proposed, Councillor McGoldrick seconded that the recommendations of the Programme 4 Committee as contained in its minutes of 25/09/2008 be adopted.  A poll was taken which resulted as follows:

 For:  Councillor D. Cawley, Councillor V. Cawley, Councillor Devins, Councillor McGarry, Councillor McGoldrick, Councillor McLoughlin, Councillor MacSharry, Councillor O’Grady  (8)

Against:  Councillor Bree, Councillor Gibbons, Councillor C. MacManus    (3)

Councillor S. MacManus abstained.

The motion was declared carried.  The minutes were signed by the Mayor.

4.  PRESENTATION OF BREAST CANCER SERVICES

Councillor Bree proposed, Councillor S. MacManus seconded that Sligo Borough Council asks Councils in the North West Area to receive delegation from Sligo Borough Council to highlight and seek support for the retention of breast cancer services in Sligo

5. CEMETERY DRAFT BYE LAWS 2008

On the proposal of Councillor MacSharry seconded by Councillor McGoldrick it was unanimously decided to defer this item to the October 2008 General Purposes  Committee meeting.

The Mayor indicated that she would convene a meeting of the parties concerned with the proposed Bye-Laws with the next 7 to 10 days.  This was agreed.

6. LITTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008 - 2010

Councillor C. MacManus proposed, Councillor D. Cawley seconded and it was unanimously agreed to adopt the Sligo Borough Council Litter Management Plan 2008 – 2010.  Members called for implementation of the plan and appointment of a person to oversee same.

7. DEVELOPMENT LEVIES OUTSTANDING AT NOVEMBER 2003

A report dated 30/09/2008 from the Director of Services set out a list of 14 developments owing various sums in the total value of €481,222.28 at above date.

It was agreed that it is unacceptable that this sum of money is still outstanding.  The Director stated that diligent pursuance of these defaulters would take place to include referral to the Courts.  Planning files references numbers concerned here will be made available to the Council.

8. PROPOSED FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE GARAVOGUE RIVER AT BRIDGE STREET

A report of the Town Clerk had been circulated with Agenda advising of intention to initiate planning procedures regarding a proposed footbridge over the Garavogue River immediately on the Eastern side of the New Bridge.  Members welcomed this proposal and on the proposal of Councillor Gibbons seconded by Councillor D. Cawley it was unanimously resolved that planning should proceed.

9. INCREASED OVERDRAFT FACILITIES

Report of 30/09/2008 from Senior Executive Officer, Margaret McConnell and the Head of Finance requesting an increase in overdraft facilities from €2.35 m to €8.35 for the period 01/07/2008 to 31/08/2009 were circulated with the Agenda.  The purpose of the increased overdraft limits is to facilitate cost of remedial works schemes which are ahead of schedule and for which the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have failed to increase the 2008 allocation and indications from the Department are that the funding period for these works will be extended by it.

A lengthy discussion followed during which members expressed their dissatisfaction at the attitude of the Department in delaying allocated funding for these schemes.

On the proposal of Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor C. MacManus it was unanimously resolved “That Sligo Borough Council contact the DOELG to ascertain their plans, with timeframes, to fully reimburse this Council for the Departments shortfall in payments towards the remedial works programme currently been carried out by Sligo Borough Council. 

The Director of Services pointed out that in the absence of approval for overdraft facilities bills cannot be paid and asked the Council to seriously consider granting approval.

On the proposal of Councillor McLoughlin seconded by Councillor McGarry it was unanimously decided to defer this matter to the October 2008 General Purposes Agenda and to place it as first business.

10. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

On the proposal of Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously agreed to suspend Standing Orders to enable the Council to now deal with Items 10 and 11 on the Agenda.

11. REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL – THE MODEL ARTS AND NILAND GALLERY

A letter of 26/09/2008 from the Model Arts and Niland Gallery seeking to address the Council relating to its future development plans and to introduce its Curator / Director was advised to the Council.

On the proposal of Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor C. MacManus it was agreed to receive this address at the November Monthly meeting.

12. CRANMORE REGENERATION LIMITED

A report of 22/09/2008 from the Acting Director of Services Mr Bartley Gavin was circulated with the Agenda.

The Council debated this item and expressed the view that it was a matter for it to establish the Agency and decide the number of members on its Board.  On the proposal of Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously agreed to request circulation to members for consideration the following items:

• Copy of Circular letter from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding setting up of the Regeneration Company.
• Copy of Draft Memorandum and Articles of Association

On the proposal of Councillor D. Bree seconded by Councillor C. MacManus it was unanimously resolved as follows “That a break-down or balance sheet showing the income and expenditure on the Cranmore Regeneration Scheme to date, be provided for consideration at the next meeting of the Borough Council”

On the proposal of Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously resolved “That a draft of the Memorandum and Articles of Association for the suggested new Cranmore Regeneration Ltd., be circulated to the members of this Council for consideration, so as suitable and necessary amendments can be considered and made by the Council”.

The following matters of concern were raised by Council members

• Adequate representation on the Board of the new company for local people and Borough Council members.
• Concern at the number of consultants being employed opposition to removal of the mounds in the vicinity of McDonnell Drive and to excessive area of survey in this regard.
• Limitation of powers of the Regeneration Body and retention of control by Borough Council.
• Indication by Minister O’Keefe that circular suggestions on method of establishing Regeneration Company were only guidelines.
• Delay in moving to demolition of centre block houses and security of same.
• Anxiety that master planning process be speedily concluded.
• Excessive demands on available housing units by Cranmore regeneration at expense of persons on housing list
• Inaction in other areas of disadvantage in the town.

Mr Gavin replied that the process for setting up the regeneration company is set out in a Circular of May 2007.  As an official he is following Government policy.  Company is to be established under S.66 of the Local Government Act 2001.  He undertook to circulate items requested by the Council.  He stressed that the consultation process relating to the mounds is not cosmetic and that its results will be fully considered in making a decision.  He said that it is inevitable that Consultants have to be engaged having regard to the scopes of the project.  He said the role of the Steering Committee will not change and that the regeneration company would act like a Project Manager.  The demolition site will be treated like a construction site, will be hoarded and subject to Health and Safety procedures and requirements.  There are no plans to do other than return this land to a green area.  It is estimated that the demolition will cost €400,000 and should commence in mid December at the earliest.  He said the Steering Committee will approve the regeneration scheme and approval of the Borough Council and the Department will be necessary.
 

This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 11.15 pm